This Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Economic and Social Councils (ESCs) intends toprovide a platform for Presidents and senior officials from various ESCs worldwide and international organizations on ESCs, to discuss key concepts and issues on civic participation and the role of ESC as a tool for civil society engagement in governmental policy-making, in pursuit of the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Some Aspects of Social Dialogue from an ILO's Standpoint, Georges Minet, Senior Labour Law Specialist, Social Dialogue, Labour Law and Labour Administration Department, International Labour Organization (paper)

The Economic and Social Council of Spain : Fifteen years promoting citizen participation, Beatriz Martin-Nieto, Head of the Department of Analysis & Evaluation of Activities, Economic & Social Council, Spain (paper)

Social Dialogue & Economic and Social Council : Slovenian Case, Igor Antauer, Deputy President, Economic and Social Council (powerpoint)

Economic and Social Council of Portugal, Renata Mesquita, Economic Advisor to the President, Economic & Social Council (powerpoint) (paper)

The Dutch Social and Economic Council : Some Special Features, Steven Duursma, Deputy Secretary-General, Socio-economic Council (powerpoint) (paper)

The Social Economic Council of Aruba, Ben Marapin, Secretary-General, Social Economic Council (powerpoint) (paper)

The CES Link Project : A Communication Tool Between the Economic and Social Councils in the European Union, Martha Theodorou, Head, Public and International Relations, Economic & Social Council, Greece (powerpoint)

The Role of Economic & Social Council of Bulgaria for the Development of a New Model of Civil Dialogue & Consultations, Lalko Dulevski, President Economic & Social Council (powerpoint) (paper)

This Expert Group Meeting EGM on Economic and Social Councils ESCs intends to provide a platform for Presidents and senior officials from various ESCs worldwide and international organizations on ESCs to discuss key concepts and issues on civic participation and the role of ESC as a tool for civil society engagement in governmental policy-making in pursuit of the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals MDGs Innovative and successful ESC initiatives in engaging civil society in policymaking will further be highlighted in this meeting More significantly the EGM will explore the role of the European Economic and Social Committee EESC the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions AICESIS and the United Nations in strengthening the capacities of ESCs in the African Region to further promote participatory processes in policy making service delivery and public accountability in support of the timely achievement of the internationally agreed development targets RELEVANT DOCU